Best Life Insurance Companies in Maryland (2026)

Overall, Protective Insurance offers the best life insurance in Maryland and across the country, earning a MoneyGeek score of 4.7 out of 5 for customer service, affordability, and coverage options. We also recommend Guardian Life, Lincoln Financial and Prudential as some of the best affordable alternatives.

Rates are based on average quotes for adult (ages 30-49) nonsmokers with a $500,000 20-year term policy. These are estimates based on MoneyGeek's analysis and may not reflect your actual premium. Actual rates vary based on health, lifestyle, and other underwriting factors. Contact insurers directly for personalized quotes.

While we've identified the top life insurance company for most, your ideal match might differ based on the type of life insurance. Below, we break down the best options for various common profiles.

Rates are estimates based on MoneyGeek's analysis and may not reflect your actual premium. Individual rates vary based on health, lifestyle, and other underwriting factors. Contact insurers directly for personalized quotes.

To help you find the best life insurance fit, we've included a filterable table below that tailors recommendations to your unique profile, making your search simple and precise.

Rates are based on a term life insurance policy for nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings. Individual costs will vary based on policy type and your profile.

Here's a quick guide with top tips to help you secure the best life insurance in the Free State.

The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) regulates all life insurance sold in the state under the Code of Maryland Regulations, Title 31. These rules set minimum standards for how insurers process policies, claims and consumer rights. Knowing these protections helps Maryland policyholders avoid coverage gaps and resolve disputes more effectively.

• Free Look Period: Maryland gives new policyholders 10 days to review their contract after purchase. You can cancel within this window for a full refund of any premiums paid.
• Grace Period: If you miss a premium payment, Maryland law gives you 30 days to pay before an insurer can cancel your policy. Coverage stays active during this period, and your beneficiaries can still collect the death benefit if you pass away before the grace period ends.
• Contestability Period: Insurers can investigate and deny claims during the first two years if you provided false information on your application. After two years, the policy becomes incontestable, and the insurer must pay claims even if inaccuracies are later discovered.
• Claims Settlement Deadline: Life insurance companies must pay claims within 30 days of receiving proof of death. Claims not paid on time accrue interest, and the insurer may face fines.
• Plain Language Requirement: Maryland's Plain Language Act requires all life insurance policies to be written in clear, straightforward language. This prevents insurers from including ambiguous provisions that could limit your benefits.
• Guaranty Corporation Protection: The Maryland Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Corporation covers up to $300,000 in death benefits and $100,000 in cash surrender value if your insurer becomes insolvent. All insurers licensed to sell life insurance in Maryland are required to be members of the corporation.

We found the top life insurance companies in Maryland are Protective Insurance, Guardian Life, Lincoln Financial and Prudential. North American, Ethos, Legal & General, Mutual of Omaha and Pacific Life are the best options for specific policy types. While these are our recommendations, you should complete your own research, decide on a coverage level, and compare quotes to get the best deal possible.

Explore expert answers to common questions about life insurance in Maryland in our FAQ section.

Shopping for life insurance in Maryland shouldn't mean sorting through confusing jargon or wondering if you're overpaying. We analyzed thousands of quotes from major life insurance providers to show which companies deliver the best combination of affordable rates and reliable service for Maryland residents.

How Life Insurance Rates Vary by Profile

Life insurance companies price policies differently based on your profile. A company offering the cheapest rates for a healthy 30-year-old may charge much more for a 55-year-old with moderate health issues. We tested multiple profile variations to identify which insurers consistently deliver competitive rates across different customer segments.

Our scoring system weighs five factors to calculate each company's final MoneyGeek score out of five points:

• Affordability (50%): Based on monthly premium quotes from real customer data.
• Customer experience (30%): Considers online tools, quote access, payment options, financial ratings, and consumer reviews.
• Coverage options (10%): We considered each provider's range of policy types, riders and other add-on options.

How Maryland State Regulations Affect Coverage

Life insurance rates don't change based on where you live in Maryland compared to other states. Available policy riders and specific coverage features can differ due to state regulations. We focused our Maryland analysis on companies with strong national reputations that offer straightforward online quotes, so you can compare options and buy coverage without added complexity.

When we couldn't collect quotes for every possible profile combination, we identified patterns in our dataset and used those trends to calculate reasonable projections. This approach gave us a complete picture of how each insurer prices policies across the full range of customer profiles.